Medications other than epidural?

Question

I'm realllly far off from giving birth but I figured that I may as well start looking into things so that I can be better prepared later on. Epidurals just kind of freak me out in general and I've never known why. I know they work wonders and I'm not going to definitely say no to it but I also want to explore other options too before I say yes to an epidural right away. What all did you have and how well did it work? Especially those of you with low pain tolerance like me? Side note, I live in the US. I know some countries sometimes use medication that may not be used here for labor.

Answer

None. 
Try and labour naturally. 
Be active, use water either via a shower or tub (amazing for pain relief). 
Try a tens machine. 
Massage. 
Don’t lay flat on your back to birth. Pushing a baby out this way is physically against the anatomy of the baby moves down your birth canal. 
Do a Hypnobirthing course. Change the way you think about pain and childbirth (can’t recommend it highly enough). 
And just a good mental attitude. 
YOU CAN DO IT.

Answer

Please do what feels right for you. A lot of people will try to force their opinions off on you but you will be in that labor room going through the contractions - not them. Everyone's body handles the contractions differently. For some it feels like intense period pains and for others it feels like their bodies are being ripped apart. People need to come to understand that. If you feel like you can handle it without - do that. If you feel that it hurts a little and you need something for it - there's pethidine and gas and I'm sure there are more pain medications available. If you're really struggling and having a long labor go for the epi if you want. You need to be totally comfortable with your decision so that you're not stressed out during your labor💜 Good luck.x

Answer

I tried to labor naturally as well...... lololol at that. 
My first son my labor was 20 hours long! I actively labored for over 13 hours with back to back horrible contractions (all back labor too which I heard is way worse). I tried to walk, I tried to take a shower (just ended up bawling under the water because the water wasn’t as hot as I needed it to be), I was quiet and in my own mind set. But after 13hrs of hell I was only dilated to 1cm still. My OB said he believes my contractions were so bad that my body was fighting labor and was actually pulling my son upwards with each contraction versus pushing him down. He broke protocol and offered an epidural at only 1cm, and let me tell you.. best damn thing ever 🙌🏼 I went from a 1 to a 10 in a little over three hours after my epidural. Doctor said doing this likely saved me from a cesarean delivery due to failure to progress. 
My second son, my labor was only 5 hours long BUT once my water broke all hell broke loose and my contractions again were back to back & my back labor was horrendous. Same OB offered an epidural after a few hours of not progressing and still only being at 1cm. I got the epidural at 11:36pm at 1cm dilated...... he was born a little over an hour later at 12:48am!! 😮 
My doctor again told me my body likely fought labor and the pain was so intense that my uterus wasn’t allowing my sons to drop down into the pelvis/birth canal & the epidurals allowed me to relax enough so my body could do what it’s meant to. 🤷🏻‍♀️Not all epidurals are bad!

Answer

I’ve given birth twice, both with the intent of a natural drug free birth. 
The first time I was hammered with pitocin and took the epidural and spinal tap, as the pain was horrendous. 
The second time I was also on pitocin but had a private midwife who gave me such a tiny dose, that birth I delivered drug free. 
Labor and delivery is such a mind over matter experience. I hands down prefer my drug free birth!

Answer

Had a very BAD experience with an epidural (not for labor,  something else). Go with your gut if you are having a bad feeling about it.

Answer

This is probably an unpopular opinion but here’s what I experienced...my water broke and once that happens you have to deliver within a certain amount of time (I think 24 hours?) or you risk infection. This meant I had to have pitocin. That stuff causes PAIN. I tried a lot to relieve pain and got the stuff that is just a notch below an epidural (don’t remember the name sorry!) it did SQUAT. Ok not squat but I really hate being in pain. Some women are tough like that and could give birth behind a tree but not me. How I was able to handle the fear of the epidural is that I told the anesthesiologist to not tell me anything he was doing. I didn’t want to hear the whole “now I’m going to insert...” I talked to my husband during it and it was done pretty fast. Definitely make your birth plan and do your best, I just say this to let you know that’s it’s ok to get the epidural and it’s not so bad. Sorry for the long comment!

Answer

They have other pain medication they can offer you. With my first, they gave me something (I can’t remember the name) that they gave me through my IV, and it was great. It took most of the pain away at the time, and it helped me sleep for at least an hr or two. That was before my water broke, then the contractions really started. They have gas as well you can try, but I didn’t use it. After my contractions really pumped up, I got the epidural. Good luck! 👍

Answer

I used the gas and a shot of morphine- they worked ok I guess. The gas after the initial buzz kinda just takes the edge off a little and gives you something to focus on... when I had a shot of morphine for my first birth it worked really well... I literally don’t remember the middle of the night during the worst of my contractions so I got to get some sleep... for my second birth it worked ok but not as well as the first time but definitely took some of the pain away

Medications other than epidural?

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